A visitor to Lake Tahoe can easily get caught up in all the excitement of this alpine wonder, high up in the Sierra Mountains.

The casinos are open 24×7 with the constant sounds of slot machines paying out winnings, and blackjack or craps winners cheering their new found fortunes. Step outdoors and the sidewalks or restaurants are bustling with happy people.

Take to the slopes of world-class skiing and snowboarding and see snow lovers young and old, beginner to black-diamond advanced enjoying the time of their lives.

But if you really want to enjoy the true beauty of scenic Lake Tahoe, get off the beaten path, walk quietly and try your hand, er I mean your feet with snowshoeing.

There is no better or quieter way to truly enjoy the wonder of a Lake Tahoe winter but by snowshoe. What makes it a perfect activity is that anyone can do it.

There is almost little to learn and the learning curve is relatively minimal on a gentle terrain.  In addition, you will get a nice workout, especially on your buttocks.

Most of the lake Tahoe ski shops will also rent snowshoes and poles.  The going rates will run you about $15 to $20 per day for the package.

Good advice for beginners is to start on the various groomed and marked trails maintained by the major cross-country ski areas.

Try these locations for the best snowshoe experience in Lake Tahoe:
- Camp Richardson on the west shore (www.camprich.com 530-541-1801)
- Spooner Lake Cross Country on the Nevada side (crosscountryskitahoe.com 775-749-5349)
- Royal Gorge at the Soda Springs exit off Interstate 80 (www.royalgorge.com 800-666-3871)

Just because the sun is setting, doesn’t mean skiers and riders need to stop enjoying their day on the slopes. Boreal Mountain Resort is proud to offer improved night lighting this season with runs that are brighter than ever.

Open from top to bottom, Boreal welcomes those with busy schedules well into the evening as their night riding starts at 3:30 p.m. and goes until 9 p.m. With double the number of lights in the lower park and four added lights to Upper Prospector, guests will enjoy access to Boreal’s upper and lower terrain park and halfpipe. Cost for night skiing is $25 for adults and $12 for children ages five through 12.

“We’ve got a great product in our night operations that most of the other resorts in Lake Tahoe don’t offer,” said Jody Churich, general manager for Boreal. “In fact, so far this year we’ve seen a 100 percent increase in night pass sales and our night ticket sales have exceeded our expectations as well.”

Racers can still enjoy the eight new lights added to the race course last season. Boreal’s race arena is available for lane training both during the daylight and at night.

For more information about night operations and current conditions visit rideboreal.com.

This Lake Tahoe mountain ski resort is very friendly towards beginners and intermediates and has over eight different terrain parks. If you need somewhere to stay, the Boreal Inn is ideal, located just a ¼ of a mile from the resort. It will accommodate 1-4 people in each room and children under four stay for free. Boreal is smaller but it is family-friendly. The staff are awesome and go out of there way to help, always an add perk.

Boreal offers the closest, most convenient access off Interstate 80 atop Donner Summit, just 90 minutes from Sacramento, 35 minutes from Reno and only six minutes from Truckee. Boreal Mountain Resort offsets 100 percent of its electricity by purchasing green power.  Source: Snowboard Revolution

Many skiers feel Spooner Cross Country Ski Area is the best in all of Lake Tahoe. The area is located on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe, within Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.

Spooner Cross Country Ski Area offers fun for people of all ages and cross country ski ability levels. Spooner Cross Country Ski Area also offers a variety of different trails, from easy to moderate to advanced.

You can also take day-long trips into the Sierra Mountains back country or spend the night in a wilderness cabin.

The trails are well groomed and offer fantastic Lake Tahoe views! One of the popular Spooner Lake trails is the lake loop trail, which offers a variety of ups-and-downs as you traverse the hills.

Advanced cross country skiers will love the challenge of the Canyon Loop to Marlette Lake trail. Feel the burn in your legs but the awesome Lake Tahoe views are unforgettable.

Ski Area Hours for 2010: 9:00am – 5:00pm

Spooner Lake
3709 Hwy 28
Glenbrook, NV 89413
(775) 749-5349

The 34th Annual Great Ski Race is scheduled for Sunday March 7th, 2010, 9:00 AM.

The Great Ski Race begins at Tahoe Cross Country in Tahoe City, CA and ends at the Cottonwood Restaurant in Truckee, CA.

Remember that The Great Ski Race is the primary fund raising event for the Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue Team, which is a non-profit all-volunteer organization.

The race is 30 km point to point race and is very popular amongst both Lake Tahoe locals and nordic racers from around the world.

The Great Ski Race is actually one of the largest races of its kind, west of the mighty Mississippi River.

Courtesy of: John Gerbino

The race is demanding, due to the length, course terrain and unpredictable weather. Everybody has a great time and it’s all for a good cause.

The Great Ski Race has gone from 60 racers being manually timed in 1977, to over 600 racers with electronic timing in 1985. Last year, 768 racers participated.

Peak participation was in 2005, with 1109 registered racers, and 1029 finishers.

Remember to stay afterward and enjoy party with live music and dancing.

For more information and sign-ups, please go to: The Great Ski Race

As the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver Canada nears, Lake Tahoe is abuzz with activity and anticipation.

Truth in Motion: The U.S. Ski Team’s Road to Vancouver is a documentary film commissioned by Audi of America. It will chronicle the unique trials of select members of the U.S. Ski Team as they prepare for a chance at greatness. Audi has proudly sponsored the U.S. Ski Team since 2007

The above video clip captures Gold medal Alpine skier Ted Ligety racing down a near vertical slope at 100 MPH as he narrates the visceral, intense experience to the finish line.

The film will be directed by Brett Morgen, multiple-award winning director of such acclaimed documentaries as The Kid Stays in the Picture and On the Ropes.

The film is scheduled to air on Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. on NBC, followed by an encore showing on USA Network on Feb. 6. It will also run three times in primetime on the Universal Sports Network.

As part of its continued support of the U.S. Ski Team, Audi of America commissioned – Truth in Motion: The U.S. Ski Team’s Road to Vancouver – which will tell the fascinating stories of these elite American athletes as they prepare for the competition of their lives.

“Audi of America’s continued sponsorship of the U.S. Ski Team has been a perfect fit from day one,” said Scott Keogh, chief marketing officer, Audi of America. “This film is exemplary of our dedication to this team and the unique stories it will create, as well as a chance to chronicle the synchronous use of technology, innovation and willpower that defines both Audi and the U.S. Ski Team.”

“It was awesome working on this project with Audi and the entire production crew. Brett and his team bring a really unique perspective to our sport,” said Olympic Gold Medalist Skier Ted Ligety. “We’re grateful for Audi’s support of this project and look forward to seeing alpine ski racing in primetime outside of the Olympic Winter Games!”

For more information, visit the official website: http://www.audiusa.com/truthinmotion

Zephyr Cove Snowmobile Center is the only place to go snowmobiling in Lake Tahoe!

Enjoy exhilarating snowmobile rides with spectacular Lake Tahoe views from 9,000 feet above sea level. The Zephyr Cove Snowmobile Center is the largest snowmobile tour center in the country.

It offers riders the chance to take guided tours that present a chance to view unparalleled scenic beauty.  You will wind through scenic pine forests and aspen groves, and explore pristine Sierra Mountain meadows.

Customers can glide along the mountain ridgeline at 9,000 feet for unbelievable views of picture postcard perfect Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley.

Zephyr Cove Snowmobile Center is located at Zephyr Cove, on Lake Tahoe’s Nevada side. They own a fleet of over 100 Ski-Doos, which makes it the largest snowmobile tour operator in the United States.

The center caters to both children and adults. Kids as young as five years old can cruise beginner trails along with their parents on a tandem snowmobile machine. For those looking for an adrenelin rush, go crazy and roam multiple remote and advanced locations.

The two-hour guided adventure allows you to climb up to a 9,000-foot ridge. There are 3 tours a day running at 10am, 12pm and 2pm. In addition (when weather conditions allow) enjoy a memorable moonlight tour.

Current prices are $119 on a single-rider Ski-Doo and $159 on a tandem and includes sales tax, with a  350 lbs.  combined weight limit.

Zephyr Cove Snowmobile Center
(800) 238-2463

With trails cutting through dense evergreen forests, Sierra-at-Tahoe evokes images of its sister resort, Northstar-at-Tahoe—only Sierra has a slightly steeper pitch.

The compact base area and no-frills, laid-back atmosphere (as exemplified by its motto, “Just Chill”) also make Sierra, like Northstar, a good place to bring the whole family.

The base area offers affordable, kid-friendly value meals, and the Parent Predicament lift ticket allows considerable family flexibility; for the cost of a full-day adult ticket, one parent can ski while the other stays with the child until they’re ready to swap duties.

Parents can also opt to leave their brood with Wild Mountain, a licensed daycare facility. But don’t let this cast the impression that it’s a families-only resort; the four new terrain parks have become quite the draw for area freestyle and daredevil skiers and ‘boarders alike.

The area claims to have 2,000 skiable acres and over 2,200 vertical feet, but it doesn’t ski that big—runs typically top out at around 1,500 vertical. Still, there is more than enough terrain and activities here to keep skiers of all abilities entertained.

For the nervous novices, there’s a range of snow toys available for rent, from the Snowscoot to the Skifox. Advanced skiers, meanwhile, can take a four-hour backcountry tour with the ski patrol for a measly $25.

Spectacular views of the lake are a constant, and the five recently opened backcountry gates leading into El Dorado National Forest make the overall skiable terrain damn near limitless.

One word of caution, however: check the weather report before you leave. The winding drive from South Lake Tahoe over Echo Summit can be pure treachery on a snowy day.

Article by: Elizabeth Zektick

Once very popular activities, snow tubing and saucering are finding a hard comeback. Lake Tahoe area ski resorts have limited or even eliminated this fun winter activity all together.

One location that continues to strive and offer people, both young and old, the opportunity to snow tube is Hansen’s Resort.

Hansen’s Resort can be found on three acres of California pine forest.  Hansen’s Resort is a secluded hideaway offering seven rustic cabins. The resort is only five minutes from the shores of Lake Tahoe ski runs of Heavenly Valley and Nevada casinos.

The snow run is around 400 feet long and offers fun for snow enthusiasts of all ages. To make it easier to come back up the run, there’s a walkway up the side of the run.

The runs are groomed on a daily basis to ensure a safe and fun time. The snow runs offer high “walls” and a small hill below to assist stopping you at the bottom.

Hansen’s Resort
Snow Tubing and Saucer Hill
1360 Ski Run Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, CA
(530)544-3361

Popular Sugar Bowl Resort in Lake Tahoe, will host the Silver Belt Banzai. It’s a progressive event coupling the energy and tactics of ski-cross with the action and excitement of a traditional downhill race.

The Silver Belt Banzai event will be held on February 14 and 15, 2009 at alpine Lake Tahoe’s Sugar Bowl Resort.

Starting atop Sugar Bowl’s famed Silver Belt run, skiers will test their skills on this spectator-friendly course, racing out of the gate in six-man heats with rules being to simply stay on-course and finish in the top two to advance.

Up to 100 qualifying and invited skiers of all ages – both men and women – will race for upwards of $10,000 in cash and prizes, with qualifying skiers competing in heats on Saturday to earn a spot in Sunday’s finals race.

Entry fees are set at $100 per qualifying racer, and free for invited racers. Red Bull Energy Drink will be in-resort, fueling the on-mountain action and live music after-event parties. The Silver Belt Downhill, dating back to 1940, was for many years considered the preeminent North American race for skiing’s elite.

Racers would travel from home resorts to compete for top honors on the challenging and formidable course, always followed with a legendary celebration. The 2009 Silver Belt Banzai will keep this tradition alive, honoring past racers with the event itself while enticing today’s top skiers with the latest racing discipline, all in a festive atmosphere with live music and parties.

For further information on the Silver Belt Banzai, visit the Sugar Bowl site.
Source: gotorenotahoe.com

The Lake Tahoe Ski season got off to a late start due to the lack of early snow.  But the Tahoe ski slopes are now fully operational as record crowds enjoy terrific skiing and snowboarding at beautiful Lake Tahoe.

But before you make the drive or fly in, check out some of the best web sites offering up-to-date snow conditions.

On The Snow
http://www.onthesnow.com/california/skireport.html

SnowWeb
http://www.snoweb.com/

Virtual Tahoe
http://www.virtualtahoe.com/SkiTahoe/SkiReport.html

Weather Underground
http://www.wunderground.com/ski/CA/

Ski Report
http://www.skireport.com/california/sierra/

Tahoe’s Best
http://www.tahoesbest.com/Skiing/skireports.htm

Gold Country Best
http://www.tahoebest.com/skiing/lake_tahoe_ski_reports.htm

Ski Lake Tahoe
http://skilaketahoe.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56&Itemid=69

Ski Central
http://skicentral.com/rpt-california.html
In addition, each of the local Lake Tahoe ski resorts have their own sites, offering the latest ski and weather conditions.